The Mae Ya waterfall in Chiang Mai’s Doi Inthanon National Park turns torrential and muddy yesterday following days of heavy rain. Officials announced the closure of the area until further notice as a safety precaution.

Flooding sweeps nation

national May 18, 2017 01:00

By THE NATION

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AS THE weather bureau yesterday warned of heavy rains in upper Thailand, various provinces reported flooding and officials were told to monitor the situation in at-risk areas.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said overnight rains had caused flooding at 25 areas but thanks to BMA officials’ efficiency, flooding in every area was cleared before the morning rush hour began at 7am yesterday, except at Sukhumvit Soi 26, which was resolved by 8.30am. “I’ve instructed BMA officials since early this year to make preparations to deal with flooding during the rainy season by draining sewers and increasing our water pumps’ capacity,” Aswin posted on Facebook.

In Uttaradit’s Thong Saen Khan district, 200 homes in eight villages of Tambon Namphee were affected by flash floods and 2,000 families were told to move belongings to higher ground and evacuate the elderly and children as a precaution, said Tambon Namphee Administrative Organisation vice president Pisit Wongthong yesterday.

In Khamphaeng Phetch’s Pran Kratai district, many homes, shops and roads were under 30-centimetre-deep flooding yesterday but no casualties were reported.

Heavy downpours on Tuesday night and yesterday morning left at least five tambons in Phitsanulok’s Wat Bot district flooded. Mountain run-off inundated homes and farmland in Hin Lad, Khan Chong, Tha Ngam, Ban Yang and Tortae and the rain was still continuing yesterday.

At the Ban Tha Kaeng riverside attraction in Ban Yang, four floating bamboo pavilions sunk in the rising Lam Kwai Noi River, prompting residents to beach the other 19 floating pavilions on shore. Wat Bot district chief Suwit Suriyawong later inspected flood damage and said the situation would be resolved quickly because the problem was flash flooding. Nakhon Thai and Chat Trakan districts were also placed on flood watch due to heavy rains.

In the North, Chiang Mai’s Doi Saket district chief Wichit Langsan ordered all tambons to be vigilant for flash floods, especially Pa Miang, Thep Sadet, Cherng Doi and Loung Nua, which had been hit by the overflowing Mae Koung River on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Doi Inthanon National Park head Wutthipong Dongkhamfoo said two days of downpours had caused mountain runoff to pour into the Mae Klang and Mae Ya falls, prompting officials to close the two attractions until further notice for tourists’ safety.

In Loei, torrential rains on Tuesday night caused 50cm-deep flooding on various roads in Wang Saphung district, while a 200-metre road section to Ban Na Paen and Ban Lert in Tambon Srithan of Phu Kradueng district were made impassable.